Good afternoon families,

We are about to start Winter next week and it promises to challenge us in keeping well and to maintaining staff across all levels and ares of the school. We will need at times to split classes across other classes and levels. Some classes will have a number of teacher throughout the day and programs such as tutoring, literacy support and specialist classes will have to be cancelled, so these teachers can cover classrooms. Leadership will also be in classrooms teaching. All of these measures will be in place to avoid having any classes return to remote learning. Returning to remote learning for individual classes, will be a last resource and can only happen with the permission of MACS.

Last week we had 54 new air purifiers arrive and they are being distributed throughout the school. Each classroom will now have 2 air purifiers. RAT's will continue to be distributed each fortnight to all students, for the rest of the term and we are asking that all students are tested twice a week.

Going forward school assembles will only be attended by half the school while the other half of the school will watch via zoom. Parents of students who are presenting at the assembly are welcome to attend.

Principal's Conference

This week I have been in East Gippsland on a Principal's conference. We have been making connections to Country and this ties in with the New 11 Child Safe Standards.

Child Safe Standard 1 (Ministerial Order No. 1359 clause 5) addresses the importance of creating culturally safe, welcoming and inclusive environments for Aboriginal children and young people, and their families. Schools must meet specific requirements relating to this standard regardless of whether there are Aboriginal children and young people currently using their services or facilities. Implementing this standard will require ongoing effort, not just a one-off change.

Cultural safety includes being provided with a safe, nurturing and positive environment where Aboriginal children:

feel comfortable being themselves
feel secure to express their culture and spirituality
are supported by a school community who respect their Aboriginality, and encourage their sense of self and identity.

We visited Bairnsdale to learn about Gurnai Kurnai culture at the Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place. Learn, understand and appreciate the history of the Gunaikurnai people through a guided tour of the museum. We then visited the Den of Nargun. A place of Aboriginal cultural significance of the Gunaikurnai people, especially the women.

We travelled to the Buchan Caves Reserve on Krauatungalung Country which is highly significant site for Gunaikurnai Traditional owners due to its remarkable Aboriginal cultural heritage. I had a wonderful week and look forward to returning to work next week.

First Communion

This Sunday, Yr 4 MP and Yr 4 LP will be receiving the Sacrament of First Communion.

Please remember these students in your prayers. Thank you to Mrs Douglas, Miss Pace and Ms Perriman for preparing the students for this very special Sacrament.

NAPLAN

Congratulations to all the Yr 3 and Yr 5 students for completing their NAPLAN for 2022.

All students did a great job. Just a reminder that this assessment is just a snapshot in time and under conditions that are not how they work usually in their classrooms. Results are expected in late Term 3. A huge thank you to the classroom teachers, Ms Barron and Mr Wood for a smooth rollout of NAPLAN online.

PFA meeting

PFA meeting will be held this Tuesday 31 May at 7 pm in the staffroom. All parents are welcome to attend.

Kingston Junior Major

Congratulations to Tom, Celeste, Ruby M and Milo for representing St Louis' at the Kingston Junior Major election. Thank you to the staff and parents who helped with transport and supervision.

School Closure

Friday 10 June

Monday 31 November

Monday 19 December

Division Cross Country

On Tuesday 31 May, 16 students will be representing St Louis' at the Division Cross Country and we wish them all the very best.

Running Club

We will be starting a running club every Tuesday at 7.50 am. The first session will be on Tuesday 7 June and students from Yr 3-6 are invited to attend. We will meet in front of the hall and students can wear their sports uniform.

Enjoy your weekend

Carmel Stutterd

Year 1 Cluster News

All students attending St Louis de Montfort's Aspendale have the right to feel safe. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a fundamental responsibility of all within our school.